The Allegheny County Conservation District held its second annual Erosion Control Workshop on February 14 and 15, 2019. The district had over 100 participants, ranging from contractors and consultants to developers. This two-day workshop focused on proper installation and maintenance of erosion and sediment controls. Each participant left with an erosion and sediment field guide designed by the district to take into the field while conducting inspections.

The PACD Spring Region Meetings are coming soon! Please review the announcement for your region meeting using the link below and be sure to RSVP to the host as directed.

Topics will include the state budget and environmental stewardship fund, conservation district week, third party reviewer legislation, a motion from the PACD Ways and Means Committee concerning a potential dues increase, a PACD building update, and an update to the PACD Directors Listserve.

PACD North Central Region Meeting
March 14, 2019 
Clinton County Conservation District Office, Mill Hall, PA 

PACD South Central Region Meeting
March 19, 2019
Cumberland County Conservation District, Carlisle, PA

PACD North West Region Meeting
March 27, 2019
Mercer County Conservation District, Mercer, PA

PACD South West Region Meeting
March 28, 2019
Westmoreland Conservation District, Greensburg, PA

PACD South East Region Meeting
April 4, 2019
Henning’s Market, Harleysville, PA

PACD North East Region Meeting
April 5, 2019
DEP Northeast Regional Office, Wilkes Barre, PA 

The Clean Water Farm Award Program recognizes Pennsylvania farmers whose exemplary farm management practices result in improved local and downstream water quality. Pennsylvania’s conservation districts may submit a nomination for a farm in their county. One award will be given in each of PACD’s six regions.

Each district that submits a complete nomination will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 pizza party for their office! Deadline: April 30, 2019.

Award recipients receive a large Clean Water Farm Award sign to hang at their farm, a signed certificate, and an invitation to the PACD/SCC Awards Luncheon in July.

Financial support for this award is provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection through the Chesapeake Bay Regulatory and Accountability Program and the Pennsylvania Chesapeake Bay Education Office (administered by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc.).

Click here to read more or contact Shannon Wehinger with questions.

PACD is now accepting mini-grant applications for up to $2,500 to implement educational and outreach activities that support and extend the work of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Projects should focus on CREP enrollment, re-enrollment, and/or CREP maintenance.

The guidelines and application for the new CREP mini-grant program for conservation districts are posted here. Questions should be directed to Amy Brown at abrown@pacd.org.

Financial and other support for the CREP Outreach Program Office Mini-grant Program is provided by the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. through a Growing Greener Watershed Protection grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and with additional support from USDA-NRCS.

Reminder to all Conservation District Staff – you still have time to register for the 2019 Building for Tomorrow Staff Conference on February 27 & 28 at the Genetti Hotel in Williamsport.

Our theme for this year’s conference is Culture & Communication, and the event program will provide you with personal inspiration as well as valuable information that you can take back to your districts.

Our Day 1 Keynote Session will explore the connection between values, mission, and culture and give you tips to bolster your focus and effectiveness and super-charge your performance and potential. Day 2 begins with an interactive workshop focusing on cultivating a culture of respect in the workplace and beyond. Breakout sessions for both days include timely and important information on a range of public-facing and internal communications topics for all staff positions.

Click here to register and for more information.

Financial and other support for the Building for Tomorrow Leadership Development Program is provided through a grant from the Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission.  Guidance for the Program is provided through the Pennsylvania Conservation Partnership’s Leadership Development Committee.

Conservation district and DEP staff can now register for the 2019 102/105 Technical Training sessions. Both the basic and topic-based courses will take place at the Wyndham Garden State College in Boalsburg, PA, with little or no cost to attend. Please click the links below for more information.

102/105 Basic Technical Training – March 19-21, 2019:
Registration Information | Agenda

102/105 Topic-based Technical Training – April 2-4, 2019:
Registration Information | Agenda

The PACD/SCC Winter Meeting was held January 30-31, 2019, at Toftrees Golf Resort in State College, PA. In addition to the business meetings of PACD and the State Conservation Commission, educational topics included Chapter 102 Erosion and Sedimentation Control ePermitting and parliamentary procedures.

A 50/50 raffle was held during the meeting. A total of $174 was raised for the PA Envirothon!

Click here to view photos from the event.

Are you prepared for a fire? We hope that the answer is yes, and we assume that a big part of that preparation involved drawing up a plan and then practicing it.

But are you prepared for a harassment or discrimination complaint? Is your district positioned to be in control of the process to ensure a positive outcome in the face a problematic personnel issue?

Fire drills are only effective when you practice them before a fire happens, so don’t wait to be prepared for a personnel problem that could expose your district’s board members to potential liability in the event of a complaint.

All conservation district directors and associate directors are encouraged to attend our 2019 Building for Tomorrow Director Training workshops on Sexual Harassment and Respect in the Workplace, presented by Mary Kay Williams of MindShift Consulting. District managers are welcome too!

In addition to examining the definitions of harassment and discrimination, the interactive workshop program will include discussions of “what if” scenarios and focus on effective policies and steps you can take to lessen liability. These sessions are free of charge and lunch will be provided.

Please click on one of the following links to register (all workshops are 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.):

Tuesday, March 5 – Genetti Hotel & Conference Center, Wilkes-Barre
Wednesday, March 6 – Ramada Conference Center, State College
Wednesday, March 13 – Cross Creek Resort, Titusville
Thursday, March 14 – West Meeting Center, West Elizabeth
Thursday, March 21 – Woodcrest Retreat Center, Ephrata

Help us spread the word and please encourage your fellow directors to participate.

Contact Matt Miller with questions.

Monroe and Pike County Conservation Districts partnered to hold two day-long workshops on green infrastructure and permit coordination in Tannersville, PA. The districts connected with engineers and other professionals involved in project planning and development.

Click here to read the entire article and to view the video.